Bonny Fire's Full Containment Expected Monday

AGUANGA, CA — The Bonny Fire southeast of Aguanga was 98% contained Saturday, with full containment still expected Monday, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The increase reported at 8 a.m. Friday was the first since the 7 p.m. Thursday update when containment increased from 90% to 95%.

All mandatory evacuation orders tied to the 2,322-acre fire were canceled Wednesday as firefighters continued building on the work accomplished overnight, reinforcing containment lines and cooling hot spots, according to the fire department.

Evacuation orders impacting properties north of the San Diego County line and south of Ramsey Road were no longer deemed necessary as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

However, evacuation warnings remained in place for the area south of Bowers Road, north of Rim Rock Road, east of Bonny Lane and west of Chapman Road.

Crews were released from the fire lines Wednesday afternoon to join personnel battling brush fires in Sage and Cabazon.

The Bonny Fire erupted early in the afternoon of July 27 in the area of Bonny and Barber lanes on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation.

It nearly swept across Chapman and Johnston roads early on, prompting Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters to unload in the immediate vicinity of several homes, protecting them from damage. One outbuilding and a vehicle were destroyed.

One firefighter was injured in the first weekend of the blaze, though not seriously.

At the fire's peak, an estimated 2,000 personnel were on the ground, including county engine and hand crews, as well as strike teams and other firefighters from the Corona Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire & Rescue and other agencies. Hot shot crews from Kern County were also dispatched to the area, which is sparsely populated.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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